Device for practicing golf.



No. 664,338. Patented nec.'l8,,|900.

H. H. SPBAGUE.

DEVICE FOR P'siicncma GOLF.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1900.) (No Model.)

WITNESSES:

$163 ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. SPRAGUE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR PRACTICING GOLF.

SFEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,338, dated December18, 1900; Application filed March 29, 1900. Serial No. 10,628. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDevices for Practicing Golf, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adevice for the practice of golf whereby aplayer may increase his skill and perfect his play without resorting tothe use of balls or the golf-grounds for that purpose.

My invention consists of a target which can be so placed on the floor asto occupy a position similar to that of a golf-ball on an ordinary tee,and when struck with a golf-club having inserted in the central portionof its vertical face a sharp-pointed instrument the target will bepierced by this instrument and lifted from its support.

The most important requisite in the skilful playing of the game of golfis the ability to strike accurately the center of the ball with thecenter of the striking-face of the club. To acquire this ability is bothtedious and difficult, and the main object of my invention is tofacilitate the acquirement of this ability. The pierced holes in thetarget show at a glance the accuracy or inaccuracy of the stroke andmark graphically the skill displayed. Knowing this, it is comparativelyeasy to mend the play.

The device is always ready, can be played indoors, regardless ofweather, in a very limited space, and surrounding breakables are in noway endangered from any parts of the device set flying by the force ofthe stroke.

In practicing with this device the same position is taken and the samestroke both as to swing and force is used as on the golfgrounds in anactual game. The first thing necessary in playing golf being to strikethe ball properly, the next is to give it the right direction. The firstis readily acquired by my device, together with the same amount ofexercise in doing so as prevails on the golfgrounds.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the target; Fig. 2, an edgeelevation. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the tee having a out thereinto admit the tang of the target, said out or mouth being closed. Fig. iis a perspective View of the tee with the mouth open. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the target mounted in the base or tee. Fig. 6 is aclub-head with a pointed pin or picker inserted in the strikingfacethereof. Fig. 7 represents the target in position on the floor and theclub in striking position. Fig. 8 represents the target impaled on thepicker after the stroke is completed. Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13represent modified forms for holding the target in an upright position.

The construction and operation are as follows:

1 represents a target made of any material that is capable of beingpierced by the impact of a sharp instrument under the influence of asweeping blow. The target is provided with the tang 2, by means of whichit is connected to its support. In order to get the full benefit forwhich my device is intended, it is essential that the same conditionsshould exist as far as possible as exist on the golf-grounds. Thereforethis tang on the target is made just long enough to raise the center ofthe target the same distance from the ground as to the center of agolf-ball when placed on an ordinary tee.

3, Fig. 3, represents a rubber supportingbase, fiat on the bottom andconvex on its upper side. 4 is a cutformed in this convex surface,adapted to receive the tang 2 of the target, as shown at Fig. 5.Pressing the edges of said base downward and opposite the longitudinalformation of the cut 4 will open such cut for the insertion of saidtang. Releasing this pressure will cause the base to assume its normalshape and close the out or opening against said tang and hold it firmenough to enable the sharp-pointed pin 5 in the golf-club to pierce thetarget and lift it from its support.

The target can be divided into rings, as shown, and such rings numbered,so that the player can readily see what portion of the target has beenstruck. In this case the lower ring would be acontinuation of thecircular formation of the target. Therefore the distance from this ringto the under side of the base will. represent the approximate height ofthe little mound of earth called the tee on which the ball is placed onthe golf-grounds.

' form supporting-legs.

In order to become proficient in playing golf, it is necessary that theplayer should be able to strike the ball directly in the center, and theimpact on the club must be at the center of its vertical face. ThereforeI have placed the pin 5 at this central point of impact. It will thus beseen that if a player can successfully pierce the target centrally inthe practice of my device there will be no difliculty in striking theball centrally when on the golf-grounds, as the conditions are preciselythe same.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the target in position to receive the blow of theapproaching club, and if such blow is properly aimed the pin will piercethe target and lift it out of its support and leave it suspended fromsaid pin, as shown at Fig. 8. In order to be able to pierce a targetoffering such a slight resistance as leather, paper, or other likematerial and the slight resistance such a target must necessarily offerby means of its temporary support, it is absolutely necessary that thesame full, strong, and sweeping stroke must be given as prevails on thegolfgrounds, so that in point of exercise it has the same advantage.

While any suitable material can be used for the targets that can bepierced by the pin carried by the club, leather is less liable to tearand will stand more fatigue. As leather is pliable, it would beadvantageous to dip the tang 2 in glue toimpart a stifiness thereto, andthus avoid any tendency to lop over when in the support shown at Figs.3, 4, 5, and 6. In Fig. 13 the cut in the support is of a semicircularform, which would so cramp the tang that no stiffness therein would benecessary.

If desired, the string 6, Fig. 7, could be attached to the base 3 andthe other end of said string secured to a chair-leg or other convenientplace, so that should the player miss the target and hit the base itcannot fly beyond the length of the string and do damage among thebric-a-brac in a room.

In playing regular golf on the grounds the pin 5 is of course removedand the club used in striking the ball. Thus the player has theadvantage of the same club in both cases, as before mentioned.

Figs. 9, 1O, 11, and 12 represent several modified constructions of thebase. In Fig. 1 the pin '7 is used. In Fig. 10 the tang 2 is made longenough to fold upon itself and form the foot 2. In Fig. 11 the tang isforked, so as to form a support. In Fig. 12 the wire support 8 passesthrough the tang, and the free ends of said wire are turned down to Noneof these, however, are equal to the rubber base, as such base cannot beinjured by a blow, While any one of'the modifications might be.

As before stated, the principal object of my invention isv to enable aplayer to acquire the necessary skill to cause the impact between theclub and ball to occur at the center of each, and until this skill isfully acquired no player can be considered proficientin striking a ball.In the practice of my device it is quite evident that unless the pin 5pierces the target the beginner will not be able to determine whetherthe stroke was long or shortin other words, whether the target wasstruck with the heel or toe of the club. To more quickly overcome thistendency to strike wild, I have (see Fig. 8) placed the pin 5 at the toeand the pin 5 at the heel. Now if there is atendency to overreach thepin 5 will pierce and lift the target. So, also, if the blow is shortthe pin 5 will also show the result on the target. If necessary, a pincould be placed under the central pin 5 and close to the lower edge ofthe club, which would enable the player to see if the target had beentopped. Of course if a blow were delivered too low the club would strikethe supporting-base, and this of itself would be a sufficient indicationof that fact.

The exact shape of the tang 2 need not be strictly adhered to, as anyshape would answer the purpose so long as the whole target remainsexposed to receive the blow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for the practice of golf, consisting of a target constructedof material capable of being pierced by the impact of a sharpinstrument, a base adapted to rest on the floor and engage with thelower portion of said target only, a golf-club, a sharp-pointed pin inthe face thereof, said pin adapted, under a swinging blow of said club,to pierce said target and'lift it clear of said floor, for

the purpose set forth.

2. A device for the practice of golf, consisting of a target constructedof material capable of being pierced by the impact of a sharpinstrument, the circular form of said target being of the same diameteras an ordinary golf-ball, a tang projecting from such circularconstruction, a support in which said target is removably secured, agolf-club, a sharp-pointed pin in the face thereof, said pin adapted,under a swinging blow'of said club, to pierce said target and lift itfrom its support, for the purpose set forth.

3. A device for the practice of golf, consisting of a removable target,a golf-club having one or more sharp-pointed pins in the straightvertical face thereof, said target constructed of material capable ofbeing pierced by the impact of said pin and lifted by said club, for thepurpose set forth.

4:. A device for the practice of golf, consisting of a targetconstructed of material capable of being pierced by the impact of asharp instrument, the circular form of said target being substantiallythe same diameter as an ordinary golf-ball, a tang projecting 1 distancefrom the center of a golf-ball to the downward therefrom, a support totemporastriking-face, said target constructed of ma rily receive saidtang so as to maintain said terial capable of being pierced by theimpact target in a vertical. position, said tang and of said pin andlifted clear of its support, for 15' support representinga tee sothat,the distance the purpose set forth.

from the center of said target to the bottom Signed at Bridgeport, inthe county of Fairof said support will equal, approximately, the fieldand State of Connecticut, this 9th day of March, A. D. 1900.

base of its tee, for the purpose set forth. T

5. In a device for the practice of golf, con- HEB RY SPRAGUE' sisting ofa target, a rubber support therefor,- an opening in said support for thetarget, a golf-club carrying a sharp-pointed pin in its Witnesses:

SAMUEL G. MEEKER, ISAAC M. STETsoN.

